Apparatus and method for isolated lung access

Abstract

Apparatus, systems, methods, and kits are provided for isolating a target lung segment and treating that segment, usually by drug delivery or lavage. The systems include at least a lobar or sub-lobar isolation catheter which is introduced beyond a second lung bifurcation (i.e., beyond the first bifurcation in a lobe of the lung) and which can occlude a bronchial passage at that point. An inner catheter is usually introduced through the isolation catheter and used in cooperation with the isolation catheter for delivering and / or removing drugs or washing liquids from the isolated lung region. Optionally, the inner catheter will also have an occluding member near its distal end for further isolation of a target region within the lung.

Description

1. Field of the InventionThe present invention relates generally to medical apparatus, systems, methods, and kits. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for isolating sub-bronchial regions of the lung and delivering or retrieving substances from such isolated regions.Lung access and isolation is of interest in numerous therapeutic and diagnostic medical procedures. In particular, access to the lungs is useful for both local and systemic drug delivery, lung lavage, visual assessment and diagnosis of lung function, and the like.For drug delivery, access is most simply achieved by introducing an aerosol to the lungs through the mouth or nose, and a variety of inhalers, nebulizers, metered dose inhalers (MDIs), nasal sprayers, and the like, have been developed over the years. While very effective for many drugs, delivery through the mouth or nose can be very inefficient, often with less than 20% of the drug reaching circulation or a targeted local tre...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

While the inner catheter may in some instances incorporate optical and illumination fibers, it will usually not have such imaging capabilities.

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